3. What is your favorite place to go with your kids in Smithtown?
Our kids love visiting the Sweet Briar Nature Center. They always learn so many new things and come home with lots of experiences to talk about. We also love to take our family walks at the Blydenburgh County Park. We can always rely on the park for fresh air and beautiful scenery, especially during spring and fall season.
4. As a mom yourself, how do you balance the demands of motherhood with running a dental practice, and do you find any parallels between the two roles?
Balancing the demands of motherhood with running a dental practice can be challenging but also rewarding. Many professional moms find creative ways to manage their time effectively, prioritize tasks, and go to their support system when needed. As for parallels between motherhood and running a dental practice, both roles require strong organizational skills, effective communication, empathy, and the ability to multitask. Caring for others whether it’s nurturing a child’s development or providing healthcare services to patients, patience, resilience, and a dedication to continuous learning and improvement are all equal parallels that I find myself applying in motherhood and dentistry daily.
5. In what ways do you believe your approach differs from traditional dental practices, and how do you see it benefiting your patients?
I prioritize on building trusting relationships with my patients. I strive to create a sense of partnership and open communication, where my patients feel empowered to take an active role in their oral health care decisions. My practice also focuses on innovative ways to enhance dental preventive care. This includes comprehensive patient education on oral hygiene practices, nutritional counseling, and early intervention strategies to prevent common dental problems such as cavities and gum disease. We take into account individual patient preferences, needs, and values to come up with a customized preventive/treatment plan for each patient instead of a one-size fits all plan. We also pride ourselves on adopting eco- friendly practices, such as reducing waste, using environmentally friendly materials, and implementing energy-efficient technologies in our dental office.
6. Can you tell us about your journey as a dentist and what inspired you to open your own practice focused on personable touches?
Many dentists begin their journey with a passion for oral health and a desire to help people maintain healthy smiles. Throughout the years of my education and training, I developed my own philosophies and approach to patient care. Dental treatment is not an easy task for many people, hence I wanted to make sure my patients feel comfortable and relaxed with me in my dental office setting. Opening my dental practice allowed me to focus on personable touches like involving a commitment to creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for my patients. This includes small gestures like remembering personal details about patients, offering amenities to enhance their dental experience, or taking the time to explain procedures thoroughly and answer any questions they may
have.
7. Could you share a memorable experience where your emphasis on personal connection made a significant impact on a patient’s dental care journey?
Your question reminds me of a patient of mine that I can never forget. She was a sweet and well-spoken lady who she came to me after healing from a past trauma. She had made every effort to help herself move on from the past and wanted me to give her what she was looking for. A new smile. A new beginning. I spent a lot of time with her during her dental visits, listening to and understanding her every word and thought. We both formed an understanding and dental visits became comfortable and enjoyable for her. I was successfully able to match her smile to her beautiful face and personality. The positive change I noticed in her made me very content. I still see her every now and then, and we catch up like old friends. I love making my patients happy and forming life long connections with them.
8. What strategies do you employ to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for both children and adults in your practice?
So, Branch Dental is a very family friendly dental practice. Being that my husband and I both are dentists AND parents to 3 beautiful little children, we thoroughly understand the dental health needs and requirements of young families. Creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for both children and adults in our practice involves a combination of physical setup of the office, communication strategies, and interpersonal skills of us and our staff. To avoid the feel of a standard dental office, we have set up a warm and welcoming waiting area for patients and families where they can feel comfortable upon entering. We have books, toys and even a TV in each room for streaming your favorite TV shows during your dental appt! There are personalized music options that can be played as well for each patient. Our staff is well-trained in clear communication techniques, empathy and understanding, while respecting each patient’s privacy.
The goal of my dental practice is to be driven by the desire to provide exceptional care so we can make a positive impact on people’s lives. We are committed to treating each patient as a unique individual deserving of compassion, respect, and personalized attention.
You can find more information Branch Dental at https://branchdental.net/
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